You are hereHome  /  Baby  /  Health Ask Dr. Sears: Humidifiers or Vaporizers?When it comes time to equip your nursery, you might be struggling with the decision of whether to get a humidifier or a vaporizer.Both of these devices work in very different ways, and it’s important to know the differences before you make a decision on either a humidifier or a vaporizer.The main difference is that a vaporizer heats the water until it becomes a hot steam, and a humidifier uses fans to create a cool mist.There are, however, humidifiers that use heat to generate the mist, but we don’t generally recommend those for nurseries.Vaporizers use intense heat to turn water into vapor.Since the heat is so high, the risk of mold growing inside the vaporizer is lower than in a warm-mist humidifier, it can still happen.The only real benefit of vaporizers is that you can get away with using tap water (usually) without having to boil it first.Because the heat is so high, it should kill any kind of germs or bacteria that were in the water to begin with.

The big reason why vaporizers aren’t generally recommended for baby nurseries is that they post a high risk of burns.While you will probably have it out of reach of your baby, the risk is always there.Most experts would never recommend either a vaporizer or a warm-mist humidifier for this reason.vaporizer na bylinkyIf you have one already, you could get away with it if you’re very careful, but it would still be a much better idea to get a good cool-mist humidifier instead.vaporizer lbcHumidifiers do the same thing as vaporizers, but in a different way.obeng vaporizerSome do use heat to disperse the water as steam in the air, but for the most part, they use fans to create a cool mist.zoly t1 vaporizer review

Cool-mist humidifiers are usually the recommended solution for baby nurseries, especially because there is no risk of burns when using them.Since they don’t use heat, they’re also less expensive to run than vaporizers are.umbrella vaporizerIf you’re thinking about the temperature of the mist, think about this: by the time it reaches your baby, it’s going to be the same temperature anyway, so there’s no benefit in the vaporizer when it comes to this.vaporaire vaporizer t2008The main disadvantage to humidifiers is that they have to be closely looked after and cleaned to avoid any problems.If your humidifier has a filter, be sure to clean it or replace it regularly.Even if it doesn’t, you have to clean out the tank and the inner part on a regular basis; damp areas are a breeding ground for mold and bacteria!

There’s no way we could recommend a vaporizer over a humidifier for your baby nursery.They both fill the same purpose, but the burn risks associated with vaporizers are too much for it to be worth it.Coupled with the extra cost associated with running a vaporizer, humidifiers just win.If you want to get a good humidifier, be sure to read our helpful guide on selecting the best for your nursery!What's the difference between a vaporizer and a humidifier, and which is more effective?While a vaporizer works by heating water until it turns into hot steam, a humidifier creates a cool mist.Either one may help if your child has a cold.The moist air these devices create can loosen congestion and may make the throat feel better.The key to using humidifiers and vaporizers is to keep them very, very clean.Germs thrive wherever there is water, so whenever you use the vaporizer, make sure you drain it and clean it thoroughly afterward.Otherwise the bacteria that accumulate can get vaporized into the air and end up in your child's lungs, where they can cause another infection.

Tips for taking your baby's temperature See all pregnancy, parenting, and birth videosVaporizers use steam to increase indoor humidity levels.This can help prevent dryness and irritation of the nasal passages during the dry, winter months and ease breathing in infants who are ill with a respiratory virus.Without proper maintenance and frequent cleaning, however, vaporizers can increase bacterial and mold growth and put your baby at risk for potentially severe illness.Carefully read and follow the use and care instructions included with your vaporizer to prevent these risks.Place the vaporizer in a safe location, away from your baby's crib and out of the reach of any pets or other children in your home.The vaporizer should be on a flat, stable surface, such as a desk or dresser, to prevent tipping and burns.Do not place the vaporizer near photographs or other items that may become damaged by steam.Run the vaporizer during the night, as needed, but check frequently for signs that the humidity level in your baby's room is too high.

If condensation appears on the windows or if surfaces become damp, it is an indication that the room is too wet.High humidity levels increase the risk of mold and bacterial growth inside your home.Add any medications to the vaporizer as instructed by your baby's pediatrician.Check the manufacturer's instructions on your vaporizer to determine the correct procedure for adding medications or essential oils to your unit.Replace the water in your vaporizer every day.Wipe out the tank with soap and water and then refill the tank with distilled water.Ordinary tap water may contain minerals that are dispersed into the air along with the steam from the humidifier, explains the U.S.Inhaling these minerals may be hazardous to your baby's health.Clean and sterilize the vaporizer every few days by scrubbing the inside of the water tank to remove scale and film, and then cleaning the tank with a 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution.Rinse the tank very well before refilling.All of a sudden, you hear it.

That nasty, loud sound coming from your little one that just irks your ears.You know what it means… a virus most likely.It interrupts your day and your night, it makes your child irritable, and it leaves you exhausted.Thankfully there’s help… simple, natural help.Keep reading to find out how a steam vaporizer for cough and congestion can help.Coughs, in my opinion, are obnoxious.They are just plain irritating.They hurt, they’re annoying, and you can’t really control them.Plus, there are so many different types of coughs and natural treatments for each kind… keeping up with it all can feel really overwhelming.Coughs can also be classified in two different ways.A productive cough means that each time a cough is made, mucous comes up from the lungs, and is the bodies way of clearing unwanted nasties from the respiratory tract.Many times it’s referred to as a “wet cough”.These are the kinds of coughs that can turn into bronchitis and pneumonia if coughs are suppressed (you don’t cough) or if medicines that keep you from coughing are taken.

A non-productive cough would be the opposite.Nothing comes up, and these are sometimes referred to as a “dry cough”.These are usually a result of an irritant or the signal that a cold is coming to a close.Either way, both types of coughs can hurt and be really frustrating.Thankfully there are natural methods that we mama’s can use to help our little ones with those coughs.There are many recipes for cough syrups that can help sooth your little one’s throat as well as help the body to get better quicker.The great thing is that you probably have most of these cough ingredients in your kitchen now.But beyond making a DIY cough syrup, there are other things you can use that will help to loosen congestion in the lungs and soothe those spasm-like coughs.When your child is congested or coughing a lot, you can always go for the old home remedy of going into the bathroom and turning your shower on to produce steam or even heating a pot of water on the stove and putting yourself and your child safely over the steam that comes up, but with the new steam vaporizers there’s really no need to go to such drastic measures unless you’re in a pinch.

Using a steam vaporizer is great because it adds moisture and humidity into the air allowing your child to breath it in.That warm steam helps to loosen the congestion that’s built up in the lungs so your kiddo can better cough it up as well as sooth the throat if it’s dry.There isn’t sufficient enough evidence to show that breathing in steam reduces the duration or severity of a cold, but it sure does have good results when it comes to helping relax coughing fits.When it comes to choosing a vaporizer, you can go with this cheaper steam vaporizer that can be used to put steam into a whole room or you can use the personal steam vaporizers that give you a good bit of steam right to the face.Just be sure to be careful of getting to close to these so you don’t get burnt… especially with a child.Now, beyond just using a steam vaporizer to release steam in the room, you can also use them along with some DIY concoctions that can help calm those coughs even more.Most of these concoctions include the use of menthol or camphor essential oil which help to open the sinuses or at least make you feel like you can breathe better, but you can always go with a synergy blend of oils that’s specific to breathing better.

This is the one I have, but doTERRA and Young Living also have really great options too.One option you have to boost your vaporizer’s effects on congestion and coughs is if you get a vaporizer that has a place for menthol sticks to be inserted, you can either buy them or better yet, make them yourself.You also have the option of putting essential oils in the medicine cup that comes on most vaporizers so that the steam picks up the oils as it comes out and distributes them in the air.Some vaporizers even work when you put the essential oils straight in the water.The only caution with putting your oils in the water is that essential oils tend to damage plastics so it could damage your vaporizer over a period of time.I’d only do that when using the cheaper versions.UPDATE: Use caution when using menthol essential oils around children under 6 years old.Some children can experience decreased respiration.Stay tuned to upcoming posts because I’ll be sharing how to make DIY menthol pads soon.